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Act 181

Tomorrow is the deadline for property tax here in Salmon Arm. If you own a property, make sure to file for your homeowner’s grant even if you don’t have all the money set aside for taxes so you’ll only pay interest on the reduced amount.

If you’re lucky enough to be 65, you’ll pay even less. Which is great for you personally, but I have to say, I question this considering the onslaught of baby boomers heading into retirement. I’m not saying the baby boom hasn’t paid their fare share, but the pyramid is not in the favour of those of us who follow the baby boom.

We share more expenses that we realize. A lot more. Pensions, for one, municipal, provincial and federal debt for another. Schools, libraries, universities, colleges, etc. And that’s just the public stuff. We share private costs too. Insurance mostly (expect a big increase for the Alberta floods). But also banking expenses (where our baby boomer friends get free basic services because they hold most of the money) – we share that cost too as customers.

Anyway, long story short, get the mark downs you can, but keep in mind that we pay either way – and some of us pay more than others.

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4 thoughts on “Act 181”

Hey Lou, instead of making us Boomers feel guilty, maybe a ‘word to the wise’ to Governments, Federal and Provincial. Had they kept their noses out of the “Trough” there would probably be money left to allocate to the Post Baby Boomer generation, after all as a Boomer generation we are not a big surprise to politicians (then again maybe we are). Plus I can’t say I’ll be lucky to be 65, like a large proportion of pensioners – when the time comes I shall have to continue working just to survive as the current pension doesn’t even cover the basics of life.

So very true Bob. Didn’t mean to guilt you out. The feds/provinces and municipalities have certainly had their hands in the cookie jar. Trouble is, the cookie jar is about to get alot smaller. They’ll be stuck and we’ll be cookie-less. I promise, any chance I get to remind them of that, I will. Cheers & Thanks. Lou

As a recently retired baby boomer, I get tired of the “blame” being put on baby boomers. We supported all those who came before us and we also pay taxes for programs for the younger generation that were not even in existance when we were raising our own children. There weren’t all the grants that are available today. Bob Beeson is correct in saying that if you have to rely on CPP and OAS alone, it isn’t enough to survive on. Luckily I have a company pension plan which doesn’t provide much either, but it certainly makes the difference. When your job ends, it is quite a shock to go from one level of income to a pension. I have struggled with debt as well, but found the way out of it and am now coming out the other side of it. Our governments need to make changes where immigrants to this country are not receiving more benefits than our seniors.

I agree with you that buying the ingredients and making from scratch, as well as shopping “specials” is the way to go. Price watching in Salmon Arm is a “must”. Also, keep an excel spreadsheet of your monthly income and expenses so you know exactly what you are spending and saving.

Thanks for your comments. You’re right. We shouldn’t blame baby boomers. I think part of the debt mentality is that I often think, as maybe others do, that every one else is better off. I realize now that it’s not true. You certainly have paid your share. Including the education of the Gen Xrs now complaining about the mess. We should be more grateful. An important lesson. And yes, careful shopping is de rigueur in smaller communities – but now that I look at this as more of an adventure than a chore, I’m quite enjoying the finds (like 99 cent day old bread mornings at Askews Downtown in case you’re in the neighbourhood) 🙂